ARLINGTON — At just 26 years old, and four years into his big league career, MacKenzie Gore was traded for the second time two weeks ago, when the Rangers acquired the left-handed starting pitcher from the Nationals in return for a package of top prospects.
Gore, who was introduced at Globe Life Field on Thursday afternoon, knows the price the Rangers paid to acquire him. And while he spent three of his four big league seasons in Washington, D.C., he’s more than happy to be in Texas for 2026.
“It’ll be great coming here to win,” Gore said. “I’m really excited to be a part of this group. I think if you’re playing anything, you want to win. Again, the first time it comes around and you get traded, you’re always going there to win. I’m really excited to have a good opportunity to win. Really excited.’
Gore will join the middle of a rotation that was the best in baseball in 2025 (3.41 ERA), headed by co-aces Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi. Rounding out the rotation are such interesting young pitchers as Jack Leiter, Kumar Rocker and Jacob Latz. Also, Cody Bradford is on the mend, hoping for a May return from an internal brace surgery.
Despite the high potential of the rotation, Gore brings needed stabilization and depth, while also getting the opportunity to learn from two of the best in the sport.
“When I heard I was coming here, that was one of my first thoughts,” Gore said. “My first [thought was] winning and then being able to be a part of this rotation and just learn from these guys and continue to grow as a player. I’m really excited.
“The biggest thing is being around them. I think you learn a lot from just watching. And then, once you kind of get into a season, being able to ask the right questions and see how they go about their business. They’ve been really good for a long time.”
What’s next for Gore? How can he reach the next level of success as a starting pitcher?
The southpaw posted a 4.17 ERA in 159 2/3 innings in 2025. He earned his first career All-Star selection with a phenomenal first half in which he had a 3.02 ERA in 110 1/3 innings. He ended the season right around his career numbers of a 4.19 ERA and 98 ERA+. The Rangers think there’s more in the tank across a full season.
Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young didn’t want to get too deep in the weeds, but it’s clear that Gore has all the tools to be an All-Star again. It’s more about the intangibles than any advanced analytic you can look at. The Rangers have the perfect environment to help him reach his fullest potential.
“I think the current pitcher that we have here is pretty dang good, and we’re excited for that,” added general manager Ross Fenstermaker. “There’ll be some continued conversations on that front as we get to learn more about each other.
“MacKenzie will have the opportunity to work with [pitching coach] Jordan Tiegs and our pitching group. But as currently constructed, he’s an All-Star pitcher coming into his own. … We think there’s a lot of positives here now, and we can continue to level up.”
